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This section draws on the ‘Rough Guide’ to the programme. If you want a copy of this guide please contact the Programme Administrator (see the 'Welcome!' panel at the start of the blog).
What follows is intended to help you acquire a general understanding of the programme. Birkbeck reserves the right to vary without notice the contents of courses or parts of courses and to modify facilities and arrangements for students. Applicants and students should confirm the up-to-date position when they need to know it.
What does ‘full-time’ attendance involve?
For full-time students the Programme covers one full year of study from September to September. Teaching sessions happen on Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays - afternoons and evenings – mostly during the standard Birkbeck terms, but note the description of the longer autumn term below. Afternoon sessions are usually 1300-1700. Evenings are usually 1800-2100. Some classes are shorter than three hours. The number of sessions will vary each teaching week, averaging out over the year at about four per week.
These teaching sessions are supplemented by your private work and study originating from them and/or as preparation for future sessions. You will also be expected to keep up to date with events in the industry and the sector. You may sometimes need to devote evening or weekend hours to this private work and study.
What does ‘part-time’ attendance involve?
It is possible for a student to study ‘half-time’ by splitting the Programme into two halves and taking it over two years. However this still requires full-time attendance for Units when it is appropriate during these two years. (This is explained further below.)
PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO TAKE THE MA CREATIVE PRODUCING BY EVENING ATTENDANCE ONLY.
What is the teaching pattern of the Autumn Term?
Attendance begins in late September, shortly before the start of the standard Birkbeck term.
What is the teaching pattern of the Spring Term?
The standard Birkbeck term dates apply. Units One and Four are taught on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons only. Unit Five is taught on one evening only per week.
What is the teaching pattern of the Summer Term?
The standard Birkbeck term dates apply. Units One and Six are taught on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and evenings for the first five or six weeks of the term.
As Unit Seven is almost entirely dealt with on an individual basis between each student and the Programme Leader, students are free from early June to undertake the work chosen for Unit Seven. This allows the possibility of a twelve-week secondment for these students who choose that pathway for Unit Seven.
When do the Unit Assessments take place?
Each Unit’s Assessment Outcomes include a Practical Exercise or Exercises which will be set during the Unit and may also be assessed during the Unit. Each Unit's Formal Assessments are delivered as follows
Unit One - (assessed jointly with Unit Seven - see below)
Unit Two - during Autumn Term
Unit Three - at or near the start of Spring Term
Unit Four - at or near the start of Summer Term
Unit Five - at or near the start of Summer Term
Unit Six - during Summer Term
Unit Seven - during two consecutive days in mid/late September (Unit Seven is assessed with Unit One)
When is the final assessment of the programme?
The final assessment of the Programme, for Units One and Seven combined, will take place at some point in the second half of September. Two days are set aside for this process. The dates will be notified in good time.
When is the graduation ceremony for the programme?
Usually in late March.
For further details see ‘FAQs – Full-Time Attendance’ or ‘FAQs – Part-Time Attendance’ as appropriate to your circumstances.
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